Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and method of manufacturing semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a carrier having first and second ends extending in a first direction, and third and fourth ends extending in a second direction and being not shorter than the first and second ends. The apparatus further includes a member holder having a magnet placement face on which first and second magnetic-pole portions are placed, the magnet placement face having fifth and sixth ends extending in the first direction and being shorter than the first and second ends, and seventh and eighth ends extending in the second direction, being longer than the fifth and sixth ends, and being longer than the third and fourth ends. The apparatus further includes a carrier transporter transporting the carrier along the first direction. The carrier transporter can transport the carrier such that the third and fourth ends pass under a center line of the magnet placement face.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-48200, filed on Mar. 11, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device.

BACKGROUND

Electromagnetic noise generated from a semiconductor chip can be shielded, for example, by covering the semiconductor chip with a metal plate. However, when the semiconductor chip is mounted on a thin device such as a smartphone, there is a concern that the metal plate prevents the thin device from being thinner. Therefore, it is discussed that the electromagnetic noise generated from the semiconductor chip is shielded by forming a metal film on the surface of the semiconductor package by sputtering or the like. In this case, in order to effectively shield the electromagnetic noise, it is desired that the metal film is uniformly formed at an excellent coverage not only on the upper face of the semiconductor package but also on the lateral face of the semiconductor package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a semiconductor package of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the structure of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a top view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a target holder of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining operation of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining a structure and operation of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a comparative example for the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a structure of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining operation of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a carrier on which a film formation target is mountable, the carrier having first and second ends extending in a first direction, and third and fourth ends extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction and being not shorter than the first and second ends. The apparatus further includes a member holder having a magnet placement face on which one or more first magnetic-pole portions having first polarity and one or more second magnetic-pole portions having second polarity that is different from the first polarity are placed, the magnet placement face having fifth and sixth ends extending in the first direction and seventh and eighth ends extending in the second direction and being longer than the fifth and sixth ends, the member holder being configured to hold, in a vicinity of the first and second magnetic-pole portions, a member that is a material for forming a film on the film formation target. The apparatus further includes a carrier transporter configured to transport the carrier along the first direction below the member holder. Furthermore, the fifth and sixth ends are shorter than the first and second ends, the seventh and eighth ends are longer than the third and fourth ends, and the carrier transporter can transport the carrier such that the third and fourth ends pass under a center line of the magnet placement face, the center line being parallel to the second direction.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a semiconductor package 1 of a first embodiment.

The semiconductor package (semiconductor device) 1 in FIG. 1 includes a circuit board 11, semiconductor chips 12, a control chip 13, a sealing layer 14, a shield layer 15, adhesives 16, bonding wires 17 and solder balls 18. The shield layer 15 is an example of a film formed on the semiconductor package 1.

The circuit board 11 includes an insulative substrate 11 a, a first line layer 11 b formed on an upper face of the insulative substrate 11 a, a second line layer 11 c formed on a lower face of the insulative substrate 11 a, a first insulator 11 d covering the first line layer 11 b, and a second insulator 11 e covering the second line layer 11 c. The circuit board 11 further includes pad portions 11 f formed in the first insulator 11 d and electrically connected to the first line layer 11 b, and pad portions 11 g formed in the second insulator lie and electrically connected to the second line layer 11 c.

FIG. 1 illustrates an X-direction and a Y-direction which are parallel to upper and lower faces of the circuit board 11 and perpendicular to each other, and a Z-direction which is perpendicular to the upper and lower faces of the circuit board 11. The X-direction is an example of a first direction. The Y-direction is an example of a second direction different from the first direction. In the present specification, the +Z-direction is regarded as an upward direction and the −Z-direction is regarded as a downward direction. For example, positional relation between the first line layer 11 b and the second line layer 11 c is expressed as that the second line layer 11 c is positioned below the first line layer 11 b. The −Z-direction of the present embodiment may coincide with the direction of gravity or may not coincide with the direction of gravity.

The semiconductor chips 12 are stacked on the circuit board 11. An example of the semiconductor chips 12 is memory chips. Each semiconductor chip 12 adheres to the circuit board 11 or the lower semiconductor chip 12 with an adhesive 16. A pad portion 12 a of each semiconductor chip 12 is electrically connected to a pad portion 11 f of the circuit board 11 or a pad portion 12 a of another semiconductor chip 12 with a bonding wire 17.

The control chip 13 is also placed on the circuit board 11. The control chip 13 controls operation of the semiconductor chips 12. The control chip 13 adheres to the circuit board 11 with an adhesive 16. Pad portions 13 a of the control chip 13 are electrically connected to the pad portions 11 f of the circuit board 11 with the bonding wires 17.

The sealing layer 14 is formed on the circuit board 11 to cover the semiconductor chips 12 and the control chip 13. An example of the sealing layer 14 is a resin layer.

The shield layer 15 is formed on an upper face and a lateral face of the semiconductor package 1. Sign S₁ designates the upper face of the semiconductor package 1 in the occasion before forming the shield layer 15. Sign S₂ designates the lateral face of the semiconductor package 1 in the occasion before forming the shield layer 15. The upper face S₁ corresponds to an upper face of the sealing layer 14. The lateral face S₂ corresponds to lateral faces of the circuit board 11 and the sealing layer 14. In the present embodiment, in order to prevent peeling-off of the shield layer 15, a surface treatment is performed on the upper face S₁ and the lateral face S₂ before forming the shield layer 15.

The shield layer 15 of the present embodiment is a metal film having conductivity. The shield layer 15 of the present embodiment includes a first shield layer 15 a as an example of a first layer, and a second shield layer 15 b as an example of a second layer.

The first shield layer 15 a is formed on the upper face S₁ and the lateral face S₂. An example of the first shield layer 15 a is a copper (Cu) layer. The thickness of the first shield layer 15 a is, for example, 2.5 μm. The first shield layer 15 a of the present embodiment is formed for shielding electromagnetic noise generated from the semiconductor chips 12.

The second shield layer 15 b is formed on the upper face S₁ and the lateral face S₂ through the first shield layer 15 a. An example of the second shield layer 15 b is a stainless steel (SUS) layer, which contains iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr). The thickness of the second shield layer 15 b is, for example, 0.3 μm. The second shield layer 15 b of the present embodiment is formed on the surface of the first shield layer 15 a for preventing the first shield layer 15 a from being discolored due to oxidation.

The solder balls 18 are electrically connected to the pad portions 11 g of the circuit board 11. In the present embodiment, the shield layer 15 is formed such that the shield layer 15 is not formed on a lower face of the circuit board 11. The reason is that the solder balls 18 cannot be electrically connected to the pad portions 11 g if the shield layer 15 covers the pad portions 11 g.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in FIG. 2 is used for forming shield layers 15 on upper faces and lateral faces of plural semiconductor packages 1 that are examples of a film formation target.

The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in FIG. 2 includes a load lock room 21, an etching room 22 connected to the load lock room 21, and a sputter room 23 connected to the etching room 22. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus in FIG. 2 further includes openable/closeable partition plates 24 at an entrance of the load lock room 21, a passage between the load lock room 21 and the etching room 22, and a passage between the etching room 22 and the sputter room 23. During processing in the load lock room 21, the etching room 22 and the sputter room 23, the partition plates 24 are closed. In transporting the semiconductor packages 1, the partition plates 24 are opened.

The load lock room 21 includes a transporter that transports the semiconductor packages 1 between the air area and the vacuum area, and a lamp heater that heats the semiconductor packages 1.

The etching room 22 performs the surface treatment on the semiconductor packages 1 with inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Specifically, the etching room 22 performs a treatment of removing an oxide film from the surface of each semiconductor package 1 and a treatment of reforming the surface of each semiconductor package 1 before forming the shield layer 15 on the upper face and the lateral face of each semiconductor package 1.

The sputter room 23 forms the shield layers 15 on the upper faces and the lateral faces of the semiconductor packages 1 by sputtering. The sputter room 23 includes a carrier 31, a target holder 32, a moving stage 33, a belt transporter 34, a motor 35, and a controller 36 for controlling operation of these. The target holder 32 is an example of a member holder. The moving stage 33, the belt transporter 34 and the motor 35 are an example of a carrier transporter.

The carrier 31 is a member on which the plural semiconductor packages 1 are mountable. In the present embodiment, these semiconductor packages 1 are mounted on the carrier 31 for individual trays 2. In FIG. 2, plural trays 2 are mounted on the carrier 31 and the semiconductor packages 1 are mounted on each tray 2. The trays 2 of the present embodiment are formed of aluminum. As indicated by an arrow A₁, the semiconductor packages 1 in the present embodiment are collectively transported by the carrier 31.

The target holder 32 has N magnet placement faces S for holding N targets 3, where N is an integer of two or more. While the number of the magnet placement faces S of the present embodiment is 5, it may be other than 5. As mentioned later, one or more S-pole portions and one or more N-pole portions are placed on each magnet placement face S. The target holder 32 holds the targets 3 in the vicinity of the S-pole portions and the N-pole portions on the magnet placement faces S.

The targets 3 are members used as materials for forming the shield layers 15 on the semiconductor packages 1. The target holder 32 of the present embodiment holds first targets 3 a for forming first shield layers 15 a and a second target 3 b for forming second shield layers 15 b. In the present embodiment, the first targets 3 a are formed of copper (Cu), and the second target 3 b is formed of stainless steel (SUS). In FIG. 2, four first targets 3 a and one second target 3 b are held.

As indicated by an arrow A₂, the target holder 32 can rotate around an axis parallel to the Y-direction. The target holder 32 of the present embodiment rotates in a revolver structure. When forming the shield layers 15 with a certain target 3, the target holder 32 rotates such that a magnet placement face S that holds this target 3 faces downward to oppose the carrier 31. The target holder 32 then forms the shield layers 15 on the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 with the sputtering particles which scatter from the target 3. The target holder 32 of the present embodiment can continuously form the first and second shield layers 15 a and 15 b by using the first and second targets 3 a and 3 b.

The moving stage 33 can move in a state where the carrier 31 is mounted on the moving stage 33. The moving stage 33 is placed on the belt transporter 34. The belt transporter 34 is placed below the target holder 32 and can transport the moving stage 33 along the X-direction with power of the motor 35. As indicated by the arrow A₁, the belt transporter 34 of the present embodiment can reciprocally move the carrier 31 in the ±X-directions below the target holder 32. A movement speed and a movement range of this reciprocal movement are controlled by the controller 36.

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the structure of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates the carrier 31 and the target holder 32 in the sputter room 23.

The carrier 31 of the present embodiment has a rectangular planar shape and has two short sides E₁ and E₂ extending in the X-direction and two long sides E₃ and E₄ extending in the Y-direction. The short sides E₁ and E₂ are an example of first and second ends. The long sides E₃ and E₄ are an example of third and fourth ends which are not shorter than the first and second ends. A length L₁ of the short sides E₁ and E₂ is, for example, 400 mm. A length L₂ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ is, for example, 600 mm. Relation between the lengths L₁ and L₂ is represented by L₁<L₂.

Each magnet placement face S of the target holder 32 of the present embodiment has a rectangular planar shape and has two short sides E₅ and E₆ extending in the X-direction and two long sides E₇ and E₈ extending in the Y-direction. The short sides E₅ and E₆ are an example of fifth and sixth ends. The long sides E₇ and E₈ are an example of seventh and eighth ends which are longer than the fifth and sixth ends. Relation between a length L₃ of the short sides E₅ and E₆ and a length L₄ of the long sides E₇ and E₈ is represented by L₃<L₄.

In the present embodiment, the length L₃ of the short sides E₅ and E₆ of each magnet placement face S is set shorter than the length L₁ of the short sides E₁ and E₂ of the carrier 31 (L₃<L₁). In the present embodiment, the length L₄ of the long sides E₇ and E₈ of each magnet placement face S is set longer than the length L₂ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31 (L₄>L₂).

Each tray 2 of the present embodiment has a rectangular planar shape and has two long sides B₁ and two short sides B₂. Each tray 2 in FIG. 3 is mounted on the carrier 31 such that the long sides B₁ are parallel to the X-direction and the short sides B₂ are parallel to the Y-direction. In FIG. 3, the plural trays 2 are mounted on the carrier 31 so as to line up in the Y-direction. Alternatively, these trays 2 may be mounted on the carrier 31 so as to line up in the X-direction (refer to FIG. 2). Moreover, cavities or convex edges may be provided to correspond to the outer shapes of the trays 2 on the upper face of the carrier 31 where the trays 2 are mounted.

Each tray 2 of the present embodiment is a JEDEC standard tray, on which 144 (9×16) semiconductor packages 1 can be contained. In this case, four trays 2 can be mounted on the carrier 31 of the present embodiment, which has dimensions of 400 mm×600 mm, and 576 (144×4) semiconductor packages 1 can be mounted thereon. It should be noted that FIG. 3 illustrates the carrier 31 that three trays 2 are mounted on for convenience of drawing.

Each target 3 of the present embodiment has a rectangular planar shape and has two long sides C₁ and two short sides C₂. A length of the long sides C₁ is, for example, 771 mm. A length of the short sides C₂ is, for example, 94 mm. Moreover, a thickness of each target 3 is, for example, 17.5 mm. The length of the short sides C₂ of each target 3 is set shorter than the length L₁ of the short sides E₁ and E₂ of the carrier 31. The length of the long sides C₁ of each target 3 is set longer than the length L₂ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31. The target 3 in FIG. 3 is held on the target holder 32 such that the long sides C₁ are parallel to the Y-direction and the short sides C₂ are parallel to the X-direction.

Sign L designates a center line of the magnet placement face S, the center line L being parallel to the Y-direction in FIG. 3. The center line L is positioned at the center between the two long sides E₃ and E₄ of the magnet placement face S. The target 3 in FIG. 3 is held such that a center line of the target 3 overlaps with the center line L of the magnet placement face S. Therefore, the center line L is positioned at the center between the two long sides C₁ of the target 3.

Sign R designates a movement range in the occasion when the carrier 31 is reciprocally moved. A length of the movement range R of the present embodiment is 840 mm that is longer than twice of the length L₁ (400 mm) of the short sides E₁ and E₂ of the carrier 31. Therefore, every time the carrier 31 moves from one end of the movement range R to the other end thereof, the whole carrier 31 passes under the center line L. Namely, every time the carrier 31 moves from the one end of the movement range R to the other end thereof, both long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31 pass under the center line L.

FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the carrier 31 has moved from the left end to the right end. During this movement, both long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31 pass under the center line L from the left side to the right side. Sign W designates a distance between the center line L and the carrier 31 in the occasion when the carrier 31 has moved to the left end or the right end. The distance W of the present embodiment is, for example, 20 mm (840/2−400 mm).

It is noted that the long side E₃ of the carrier 31 in FIG. 3 is hidden under the magnet placement face S. When the carrier 31 of the present embodiment reciprocally moves, only the long side E₄ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ passes under the long side E₈ of the magnet placement face S, and only the long side E₃ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ passes under the long side E₇ of the magnet placement face S. This is because the distance W is set shorter than a half of the length L₃ (W<L₃/2).

When sputtering particles scatter from the target 3 of the target holder 32, the carrier 31 of the present embodiment reciprocally moves. This makes it possible to uniformly form the shield layers 15 at an excellent coverage on the upper faces and the lateral faces of the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31. A movement speed in the occasion of reciprocal movement of the carrier 31 of the present embodiment is, for example, 44 mm/s. Moreover, performance time of one sputtering process of the present embodiment is, for example, 350 seconds.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a top view and a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of the target holder 32 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a top view illustrating the magnet placement face S that faces downward and the target 3 that is held on this magnet placement face S. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, plural S-pole portions 32 a and plural N-pole portions 32 b are placed on each magnet placement face S of the target holder 32. The S-pole portions 32 a are an example of one or more first magnetic-port portions having first polarity. The N-pole portions 32 b are an example of one or more second magnetic-pole portions having second polarity different from the first polarity.

The S-pole portions 32 a are placed to form a first annular shape. Each S-pole portion 32 a has a rectangular planar shape and is placed such that the long sides of each S-pole portion 32 a are oriented in a direction along this first annular shape. Namely, the long sides of each S-pole portion 32 a are parallel to the Y-direction in the vicinity of the long sides E₇ and E₈ of the magnet placement face S, and are parallel to the X-direction in the vicinity of the short sides E₅ and E₆ of the magnet placement face S.

The N-pole portions 32 b are placed to form a second annular shape surrounding the S-pole portions 32 a. Each N-pole portion 32 b has a rectangular planar shape and is placed such that the long sides of each N-pole portion 32 b are oriented in a direction along this second annular shape. Namely, the long sides of each N-pole portion 32 b are parallel to the Y-direction in the vicinity of the long sides E₇ and E₈ of the magnet placement face S, and are parallel to the X-direction in the vicinity of the short sides E₅ and E₆ of the magnet placement face S.

Sign E designates an erosion region of the target 3. The erosion region E of the present embodiment is generated between the S-pole portions 32 a and the N-pole portions 32 b to be annular.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I′ in FIG. 4A. Sign 32 c designates a main body of the target holder 32. The main body 32 c of the target holder 32 has the magnet placement face S. Sign B designates magnetic fields generated between the S-pole portions 32 a and the N-pole portions 32 b. In the present embodiment, under the influence of the magnetic fields B, regions P with high plasma density are generated in the vicinity of regions between the S-pole portions 32 a and the N-pole portions 32 b. As a result, the erosion region E is generated in the target 3 in the vicinity of the regions P. In the erosion region E, the target 3 is liable to be removed due to the erosion of the target 3. Therefore, a large part of the sputtering particles of the present embodiment are generated in the vicinity of the erosion region E. The erosion of the target 3 becomes gradually deeper as the target 3 is being used.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining operation of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a situation that the sputtering particles scatter on the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 from the target 3 of the magnet placement face S that faces downward. Arrows K indicate tracks of the sputtering particles scattering from the erosion region E of the target 3. In FIG. 5, the S-pole portions 32 a and the N-pole portions 32 b are omitted from the illustration for convenience of drawing.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the sputtering particles contain particles scattering in the vertical direction (−Z-direction) from the erosion region E and particles scattering in oblique directions from the erosion region E. Therefore, in a case where a certain semiconductor package 1 is right under the erosion region E, the shield layer 15 is liable to be formed on the upper face of this semiconductor package 1. On the other hand, in a case where a certain semiconductor package 1 is obliquely below the erosion region E, the shield layer 15 is liable to be formed on the lateral face of this semiconductor package 1.

Accordingly, when the sputtering particles scatter from the target 3, the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment reciprocally moves the carrier 31. This makes it possible to uniformly form the shield layers 15 at an excellent coverage on the upper faces and the lateral faces of the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the structure and the operation of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

The carrier 31 of the present embodiment reciprocally moves in ±X-directions. Moreover, the carrier 31 is disposed such that the short sides E₁ and E₂ are parallel to the X-direction. Such disposition leads to a merit that the movement range R of the carrier 31 is shorter for the whole carrier 31 passing under the center line L as compared with disposition in which the long sides E₃ and E₄ are parallel to the X-direction.

Moreover, the magnet placement face S in FIG. 3 is disposed such that the short sides E₅ and E₆ are parallel to the X-direction. Similarly, the target 3 in FIG. 3 is disposed such that the short sides C₂ are parallel to the X-direction. Such disposition leads to a merit that smaller areas of the magnet placement face S and the target 3 can be realized as compared with disposition in which the long sides E₇ and E₈ and the long sides C₁ are parallel to the X-direction.

Furthermore, the long sides E₇ and E₈ of the magnet placement face S are set longer than the long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31. Similarly, the long sides C₁ of the target 3 are set longer than the long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the shield layers 15 can be uniformly formed at an excellent coverage both on the semiconductor packages 1 in the vicinity of the short side E₁ of the carrier 31 in the +Y-direction and on the semiconductor packages 1 in the vicinity of the short side E₂ of the carrier 31 in the −Y-direction.

Moreover, the short sides E₅ and E₆ of the magnet placement face S are set shorter than the short sides E₁ and E₂ of the carrier 31. Similarly, the short sides C₂ of the target 3 are set shorter than the short sides E₁ and E₂ of the carrier 31. Such setting leads to a merit that smaller areas of the magnet placement face S and the target 3 can be realized.

Furthermore, once the carrier 31 moves from one end of the movement range R to the other end thereof, both long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31 pass under the center line L. Namely, when the carrier 31 moves from the one end of the movement range R to the other end thereof, the whole carrier 31 passes under the center line L. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the shield layers 15 can be uniformly formed at an excellent coverage both on the semiconductor packages 1 in the vicinity of the long side E₄ of the carrier 31 in the +X-direction and on the semiconductor packages 1 in the vicinity of the long side E₃ of the carrier 31 in the −X-direction.

Moreover, the carrier 31, the magnet placement face S (main body 32 c of the target holder 32) and the target 3 of the present embodiment have rectangular planar shapes extending in the Y-direction. Such structures enable the shield layers 15 to be efficiently formed on the plural semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 in their combination with the operation of the reciprocal movement of the carrier 31 in the ±X-directions. In addition, such structures lead to a merit that a ratio in area of the erosion region E occupied in the target 3 can be increased and utilization efficiency of the target 3 can be enhanced.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the distance W in the occasion when the carrier 31 has moved to one end or the other end of the movement range R is set shorter than a half of the length L₃ of the short sides E₅ and E₆ of the magnet placement face S (W<L₃/2). Therefore, when the carrier 31 reciprocally moves, only the long side E₄ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ passes under the long side E₈ of the magnet placement face S, and only the long side E₃ of the long sides E₃ and E₄ passes under the long side E₇ of the magnet placement face S. Such operation leads to a merit that the movement range R of the carrier 31 where the whole carrier 31 passes under the center line L can be made short. Moreover, to make the movement range R of the carrier 31 short can increase the time during which the carrier 31 passes through tracks of all sputtering particles scattering from the target 3. Therefore, sputtering efficiency on the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 can be enhanced.

Moreover, each tray 2 of the present embodiment is arranged such that its long sides B₁ are parallel to the X-direction. Such arrangement leads to a merit that temperature difference between the semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 can be suppressed as compared with arrangement in which the short sides B₂ are parallel to the X-direction, since the plural trays 2 simultaneously pass under the center line L.

As described above, the present embodiment makes it possible, by applying such structures and operation to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, to form the shield layers 15 high in uniformity on the upper faces and the lateral faces of the plural semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31.

According to an experiment, when the shield layers 15 were formed on the plural semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 using the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, fluctuation in thickness of the shield layers 15 on these semiconductor packages 1 was able to be suppressed to approximately 10%.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining a structure and operation of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a comparative example for the first embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates a carrier 31 and a target 3 of the comparative example. The carrier 31 and the target 3 of the comparative example have circular planar shapes. Similarly, the magnet placement face S of the comparative example, which is not shown, has a circular planar shape. Therefore, a circular annular erosion region E is generated in the target 3 of the comparative example.

FIG. 6B schematically illustrates a situation that sputtering particles scatter on semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31 from the target 3. In the comparative example, the sputtering process is performed in the state where the carrier 31 stands still.

Sign G₁ designates a semiconductor package 1 disposed in the vicinity of the center of the target 3. Sign G₂ designates a semiconductor package 1 disposed far from the center of the target 3. In the comparative example, a shield layer 15 can be uniformly formed on the upper face S₁ and the lateral face S_(2A) and S_(2B) of the semiconductor package 1 with sign G₁. However, a shield layer 15 is hardly formed on the far-side lateral face S_(2A) of the semiconductor package 1 with sign G₂. Therefore, the shield layer 15 cannot be uniformly formed on the semiconductor package 1 with sign G₂.

Moreover, the planar shapes of the semiconductor packages 1 are typically square or rectangular. Therefore, in the case where the planar shape of the target 3 is circular as in the comparative example, it is difficult for the plural semiconductor packages 1 to be arranged with respect to the target 3 so as to realize excellent sputtering efficiency.

On the other hand, the present embodiment makes it possible, by applying the above-mentioned structures and operation to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, to uniformly form the shield layers 15 at an excellent coverage on the upper faces and the lateral faces of the plural semiconductor packages 1 on the carrier 31, and to arrange the plural semiconductor packages 1 with respect to the target 3 so as to realize excellent sputtering efficiency.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a structure of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a second embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the plural trays 2 are mounted on the carrier 31 so as to line up in the Y-direction (FIG. 3). Meanwhile, in the second embodiment, the plural trays 2 are mounted on the carrier 31 so as to line up in the X-direction and the Y-direction (FIG. 7).

In this manner, the trays 2 in the first embodiment are arranged so as to line up in one direction. Such arrangement leads to a merit that the trays 2 can be easily placed on the carrier 31 by automatic transportation, for example. Meanwhile, the trays 2 in the second embodiment are arranged so as to line up in two directions. Such arrangement leads to a merit that the trays 2 and the carrier 31 in various shapes can be adopted, for example.

In these embodiments, the plural trays 2 may be mounted on the carrier 31 so as to line up only in the X-direction.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining operation of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of a third embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the distance W in the occasion when the carrier 31 has moved to one end of the movement range R or the other end thereof is set shorter than a half of the length L₃ of the short sides E₅ and E₆ of the magnet placement face S (W<L₃/2: FIG. 5). The distance W of the first embodiment is, for example, 20 mm.

Meanwhile, the distance W in the third embodiment in the occasion when the carrier 31 has moved to one end of the movement range R or the other end thereof is set longer than a half of the length L₃ (W>L₃/2: FIG. 8). The distance W of the third embodiment is, for example, 50 mm. Therefore, when the carrier 31 reciprocally moves, both long sides E₃ and E₄ pass under the long side E₈ of the magnet placement face S and pass under the long side E₇ of the magnet placement face S (refer to FIG. 3).

With the distance W of the first embodiment, the movement range R of the carrier 31 where the whole carrier 31 passes under the center line L can be made short. On the other hand, with the distance W of the third embodiment, the shield layers 15 can be formed at a more excellent coverage on the lateral faces of the semiconductor packages 1 in the vicinity of the long sides E₃ and E₄ of the carrier 31.

It is desirable that the distance W is set to a preferable value in consideration of the area and the thickness of each semiconductor package 1.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel apparatuses and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatuses and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus comprising: a carrier on which a film formation target is mountable, the carrier having first and second ends extending in a first direction, and third and fourth ends extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction and being not shorter than the first and second ends; a member holder having a magnet placement face on which one or more first magnetic-pole portions having first polarity and one or more second magnetic-pole portions having second polarity that is different from the first polarity are placed, the magnet placement face having fifth and sixth ends extending in the first direction and seventh and eighth ends extending in the second direction and being longer than the fifth and sixth ends, the member holder being configured to hold, in a vicinity of the first and second magnetic-pole portions, a member that is a material for forming a film on the film formation target; and a carrier transporter configured to transport the carrier along the first direction below the member holder, wherein the fifth and sixth ends are shorter than the first and second ends, the seventh and eighth ends are longer than the third and fourth ends, and the carrier transporter can transport the carrier such that the third and fourth ends pass under a center line of the magnet placement face, the center line being parallel to the second direction.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first magnetic-pole portions are placed to form a first annular shape, and the second magnetic-pole portions are placed to form a second annular shape surrounding the first magnetic-pole portions.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member holder has, as the magnet placement face, N magnet placement faces configured to hold N members, where N is an integer of two or more.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the member holder is configured to be rotatable such that one of the N magnet placement faces opposes the carrier.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the member holder is configured to be rotatable around an axis parallel to the second direction.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier transporter causes the carrier to reciprocally move such that only one of the third and fourth ends passes under the seventh end and only another one of the third and fourth ends passes under the eighth end, when particles scatter on the film formation target from the member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carrier transporter causes the carrier to reciprocally move such that the third and fourth ends pass under the seventh end and the third and fourth ends pass under the eighth end, when particles scatter on the film formation target from the member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein plural trays each containing plural semiconductor packages as the film formation target are mountable on the carrier.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a planar shape of each tray is rectangular.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each tray is mountable on the carrier such that a long side of each tray is parallel to the first direction.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each tray is mountable on the carrier such that a long side of each tray is parallel to the second direction.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sputter room including the member holder and the carrier transporter; and an etching room connected to the sputter room. 